Mark Zuckerberg addressed members of the European Parliament in Brussels on Tuesday, continuing an apology-and-explanation tour the Facebook CEO kicked off last month when he testified before the U.S. Congress.

The European and U.S. inquiries concern the same fundamental questions about the social media giant, triggered by the news that Facebook permitted Cambridge Analytica to harvest the private data of 87 million users and that Facebook failed to take action when it became clear in 2016 that foreign actors were using its platform to spread disinformation and undermine democratic processes.

In his opening statement Tuesday, Zuckerberg reiterated what’s become a common refrain, acknowledging both that his company failed to properly safeguard its users’ data and that it was caught unprepared to counteract political meddling during past elections. As he’s done before, he assured the European politicians that Facebook now takes both issues seriously, but he stopped short of promising they won’t arise again.

Zuckerberg was originally scheduled to speak privately, but agreed to have the questioning streamed online under pressure from European Parliament President Antonio Tajani.

Some of the sharpest queries came from Belgian member Guy Verhofstadt, who called out Zuckerberg for Facebook’s long history of apologizing for its mistakes and then failing to actually correct them. He noted the similarities between Facebook and the global banking system, which assured watchdogs in 2006 that it was doing a great job of self-regulation. A historic global recession soon followed, set off by banking malfeasance.

“I really think we have a big problem here and it’s not solved by saying, ‘We’re going to fix it ourselves,’” Verhofstadt said.

Then he asked Zuckerberg directly if he wants to be remembered, together with Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, as having “enriched our world and societies” or if he wants to simply be “the genius that created a digital monster that is destroying our democracies and our societies.”

The meeting constituted Zuckerberg’s sole address to European politicians ahead of the May 25 implementation date for strict new data privacy rules under the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation. Zuckerberg declined an invitation to separately address lawmakers in the U.K., where Facebook is under fire for its role in the country’s 2016 vote to leave the EU.

Unlike his testimony in the U.S., where members of Congress took turns questioning Zuckerberg and hearing his answers, the European politicians all spoke first and then Zuckerberg addressed their questions in one long statement at the end. That format proved problematic, as several members objected when he ignored the specifics and stuck to discussing their “high level” concerns.

Pressed for greater detail toward the end, including on the company’s practice of tracking people who don’t even have Facebook profiles, Zuckerberg promised to “follow up” with the politicians at a later date.

]]>How Meghan Markle And Prince Harry’s Wedding Differed From The Last Royal Nuptialshttp://ynwatchtime.com/how-meghan-markle-and-prince-harrys-wedding-differed-from-the-last-royal-nuptials/
Tue, 22 May 2018 13:38:33 +0000http://sheyeewedding.com/how-meghan-markle-and-prince-harrys-wedding-differed-from-the-last-royal-nuptials/

The Walk Down The Aisle

There were few subjects more drama-laden in the days before the wedding than who would walk the bride down the aisle. A week prior, her father, Thomas Markle, bowed out of the duty after admitting having arranged paparazzi shots of himself and reportedly suffering a heart attack.

Some speculated that Meghan would walk herself down the aisle at St. George’s Chapel while others wondered if her mother, Doria Ragland, would do the honors. In the end, Kensington Palace announced that Prince Charles would meet the bride halfway down the aisle and accompany her to the altar.

The decision was a savvy one, as it resulted in one of the most endearing moments of the royal wedding:

At the last royal wedding, things went a little more by the book, with Michael Francis Middleton walking his daughter, the soon-to-be Duchess of Cambridge, down the aisle to meet Prince William.

There is royal precedent for close relatives stepping in to handle escort duty. Queen Victoria, whose father died when she was an infant, was walked down the aisle by one of her uncles when she married Prince Albert, said Carolyn Harris, the author of Queenship and Revolution in Early Modern Europe: Henrietta Maria and Marie Antoinette .

“Then, later, the widowed Queen Victoria escorted her daughters Helena and Beatrice down the aisle at their weddings,” Harris told HuffPost.

Heritage Images via Getty Images
Queen Victoria weds Prince Albert at St. James’s Palace in 1840. She had been escorted down the aisle by her favorite uncle.

The Gown

Meghan opted for a thoroughly modern, understated design by Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy and a dramatically long veil. At her wedding, the Duchess of Cambridge wore a timeless, Grace Kelly-esque gown designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and a much shorter veil.

Kai Pfaffenbach/Reuters; Andrew Matthews/Reuters
The Duchess of Cambridge to the left, the Duchess of Sussex to the right.

The gowns are so different that there’s very little opportunity for close comparison, said Marlene Koenig, a royal historian who runs the website Royal Musings.

“How would you contrast Meghan’s dress with Kate’s? Meghan’s was much more simple, but so elegant,” Koenig said. “The veil included embroidered flowers from all 53 Commonwealth countries and California, where Meghan is from.”

The Guest List

Because of Harry’s place in the royal family’s line of succession ― now that Prince Louis is around, he’s sixth in line for the throne ― he and his bride-to-be were able to create a guest list that was a little less royal- and dignitary-heavy.

“Since William is second in line to the throne, his guest list included political figures such as Commonwealth prime ministers and Commonwealth governors-general. William and Kate’s wedding also included a large contingent of foreign royalty,” Harris said.

Ian Gavan/GP via Getty Images
Then-Prince Felipe and then-Princess Letizia of Spain (now the king and queen) and Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden exit Westminster Abbey after the 2011 royal wedding.

Those lucky enough to be included among the 600 guests this time around included friends and family members as well as people the couple had met through their charity work and Meghan’s years as an actress.

“Prince Harry only invited foreign royalty who are his personal friends such as Seeiso of Lesotho, who co-founded the Sentebale charity with Harry,” Harris said.

The Wedding Service

Harry and Meghan’s ceremony catered more to their distinct personalities, experts said, and was a little more informal as a result.

While William and Kate’s musical selections had a strong traditional focus, Harry and Meghan mixed in some more modern music, with Karen Gibson and the Kingdom Choir performing “Stand By Me” by American soul singer Ben E. King. The performance followed a stirring sermon delivered by Bishop Michael Curry, the head of the Episcopal Church in the U.S.

WPA Pool via Getty Images
Michael Curry, the first black presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church in the U.S., delivered a spirited sermon that cited Martin Luther King Jr.

“The address was longer than the usual address, more passionate, inclusive, which speaks to Meghan’s cultural heritage. An address like this is more American in style than British,” Koenig said.

The late Princess Diana’s family also took on a larger role in the ceremony. Prior to the wedding, Kensington Palace said that Harry was “keen to involve his mother’s family in his wedding” ― a wish that was fulfilled by having one of Diana’s older sisters, Lady Jane Fellowes, give the sole reading at the ceremony.

“Diana’s family assumed a more prominent role here,” said Myka Meier, a royal etiquette expert and the founder of Beaumont Etiquette. “At the wedding of William and Kate, the bride’s family, the Middletons, assumed a prominent role, with Kate’s brother, James Middleton, giving a reading and Kate’s sister, Pippa Middleton, carrying the bride’s train as maid-of-honor.”

The After-Party Dress and Evening Reception

After their 2011 wedding, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge held a party at Buckingham Palace, which at least some of the 300 guests described as “magical.” Both William and Harry reportedly gave speeches that paid tribute to Princess Diana.

The newly minted Duke and Duchess of Sussex enjoyed a party at Frogmore House with 200 close friends and family. William reportedly gave a “naughty” best man speech and Meghan thanked the royal family for welcoming her into the fold.

“That was something that was different,” Meier said. “At the reception, Meghan gave a speech whereas Kate did not. It’s untraditional of a British royal wedding but shows her American side, as many American brides now give speeches at their receptions.”

Both brides changed into something a little more chic for the evening parties. Kate slipped into a white satin strapless evening gown and sweater in 2011, while Meghan donned a high-neck Stella McCartney gown made of lily-white silk crepe last Saturday.

Steve Parsons/AFP/Getty Images; John Stillwell/Reuters
The two royal brides’ evening choices.

The Official Portrait

No royal wedding is complete without a big family portrait to commemorate the occasion. Here’s the one taken for Will and Kate’s big day, which includes the duchess’ immediate family:

Hugo Burnand/Clarence House Handout/Reuters
The official photograph at the 2011 royal wedding.

And here’s Harry and Meghan’s portrait, which includes Meghan’s mother and Will and Kate’s two older children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte:

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle — now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex — are officially husband and wife!

The royal and former actress wed Saturday at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in front of 600 guests, including celebrities like Elton John, Serena Williams and Oprah. Everything ― from the weather to the vows to Markle’s gorgeous Givenchy gown ― was perfect.

Millions (if not billions) of people from around the world watched the couple exchange rings, kiss outside of the chapel and then ride around Windsor Town in a carriage.

To make sure you don’t miss a moment of their special day, check out all of the photos below:

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, now the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, took their vows Saturday at Windsor Castle and nudged the royal family into a more modern era, with a ceremony that bucked convention and tradition throughout.

Here are all the ways they made their moment in the world spotlight stand out:

OWEN HUMPHREYS via Getty Images

Reverend Michael Curry’s energetic sermon…

Curry, who is American, spoke animatedly about love, God and Instagram in a long and partly improvised sermon before a bunch of royals who seemed… perplexed. He even evoked slavery as he spoke about “the dynamic power of love.”

It was just a bit of a shift from the sermon delivered at the 2011 wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

The reverend is the first black person to lead the Episcopal Church, which is part of the Anglican Communion like the Church of England.

Twitter lit up with Americans celebrating the significance of both Curry’s presence and his words.

…which included a quote by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love,” Curry said, quoting the late civil rights leader. “And when we discover that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way.”

Wait, we just had a black preacher talk about slavery and MLK and now we’re getting Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me”

A gospel choir rendition of “Stand By Me”

The choir’s performance before a seated Harry and Meghan represented another element of black culture in the wedding ceremony.

The blog Black Girl Nerds called the whole thing “one of the most beautiful and BLACK weddings we’ve seen televised yet!”

PA Wire/PA Images
Karen Gibson and the Kingdom Choir performed at the royal wedding on May 19.

Harry’s wedding band

Since wedding bands are a more modern tradition in the United Kingdom, it’s common for British aristocrats to skip them.

But at Saturday’s ceremony, Meghan gave Harry a platinum band with a textured finish made by Cleave and Company, the British jeweler that also fashioned her rings.

Harry’s brother, William, chooses not to wear a band, like their grandfather. The royal brothers’ father, Prince Charles, doesn’t wear one, either, but he did opt for a signet ring at his 2005 wedding.

Harry’s beard

Harry didn’t shave. Good for Harry.

Empics Entertainment
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the new Duke and Duchess of Sussex, pictured during their carriage procession through Windsor after the royal wedding on Saturday.

The (non-tiered) cake

Royals have historically gone for grand tiered confections at their nuptials, but Harry and Meghan opted for something different. The couple chose a light sponge cake by American pastry chef Claire Ptak made with elderflower syrup and 200 lemons, with sections displayed atop separate golden stands.

The wedding cake is to be served at the Reception. It was designed by Claire Ptak and features elderflower syrup made at The Queen’s residence in Sandringham from the estate’s own elderflower trees, as well as a light sponge cake uniquely formulated for the couple. #royalwedding pic.twitter.com/kt5lE4tEn9

— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) May 19, 2018

The absence of the word “obey” in the couple’s vows…

It is a pretty creepy tradition when you think about it.

…and being named “husband and wife,” not “man and wife”

]]>Prince Charles Will Walk Meghan Markle Down The Aisle At The Royal Weddinghttp://ynwatchtime.com/prince-charles-will-walk-meghan-markle-down-the-aisle-at-the-royal-wedding/
Sat, 19 May 2018 13:34:34 +0000http://www.sheyeewedding.com/prince-charles-will-walk-meghan-markle-down-the-aisle-at-the-royal-wedding/

Prince Charles will walk Meghan Markle down the aisle at her royal wedding to his son, Prince Harry, on Saturday.

Kensington Palace confirmed the news via Twitter on Friday morning:

Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, had been set to perform the duty at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, England. However, he pulled out earlier this week after suffering a heart attack. He also confessed to arranging paparazzi photographs in the build-up to the ceremony.

“Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding,” Markle wrote in a statement released by the palace Thursday. “I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health.”

Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, had been tipped to take over the role. She arrived in Britain on Wednesday and is scheduled to take tea with Queen Elizabeth II, Harry’s grandmother, on Friday.

Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, will not be attending Saturday’s royal wedding between his daughter and Prince Harry.

Kensington Palace confirmed the news on Twitter early Thursday:

“Sadly, my father will not be attending our wedding,” Markle wrote in a statement released by the palace. “I have always cared for my father and hope he can be given the space he needs to focus on his health.”

Markle also thanked “everyone who has offered generous messages of support” and said she wanted them to know “how much Harry and I look forward to sharing our special day with you on Saturday.”

Thomas Markle had been set to walk his daughter down the aisle at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor during the ceremony.

But on Monday he revealed he would not attend the nuptials after he suffered a heart attack ― and after admitting to staging paparazzi photos in the lead-up to the big day.

Confusion abounded Tuesday, after Markle acknowledged that he’d like to attend the wedding if possible, then throwing his attendance into doubt again with the revelation he would undergo major heart surgery.

Meghan Markle’s mother, Doria Ragland, arrived in Britain on Wednesday. It’s currently not known who will accompany the bride down the aisle, however.

Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas, may not be attending Saturday’s wedding due to health problems, but there’s a possible surrogate willing to walk her down the aisle.

He’s 83-year-old Terry Hutt and he may be the British royal family’s biggest fan.

For the past few days, Hutt has been camping out near Windsor Castle in hopes of getting a peek at the couple on their way to the royal wedding.

Hutt’s so excited for Prince Harry and Markle’s marriage that he is willing to give up his spot outside if his services are needed.

“I’m over the moon to think Harry’s getting married; we’ve all been waiting a long time for him,” Hutt said, according to Inside Edition. “Again, with what’s going on [with Markle’s father], it won’t stop them from being married, even if I have to take her up the aisle, I’ll take her up for him.”

So far, the smart money is on Markle choosing her mother, Doria Ragland, to walk her down the aisle.

But if Hutt’s services are needed in a pinch, he will be easy to spot since he’s dressed in a suit covered with Union Jacks.

With just days to go before the royal wedding, Meghan Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, has taken center stage.

Nearly two weeks ago, Kensington Palace confirmed that the former lighting director in Hollywood ― who now lives a low-key life in Rosarito, Mexico ― would be walking his daughter down the aisle on May 19.

But on Monday, Thomas Markle told TMZ that he was no longer planning to attend the wedding, several days after he had suffered a heart attack and confirmed that he’d taken staged paparazzi photos of himself getting ready for the weekend.

A spokesperson for the palace declined to comment on the matter to HuffPost on Monday, though they later issued a statement after much speculation.

“This is a deeply personal moment for Ms. Markle in the days before her wedding,” the statement said. “She and Prince Harry ask again for understanding and respect to be extended to Mr. Markle in this difficult situation.”

By Tuesday, Thomas Markle had changed his tune, telling TMZ that he would be going to the wedding, even though he was reportedly back in the hospital for heart issues again.

“Of course I’d walk her down the aisle,” he told the outlet. “This is a historic moment. I’d like to be a part of history.”

So, as of publication time Tuesday afternoon, ThomasMarkle still reportedly plans to walk his daughter down the aisle.Kensington Palace told HuffPost on Tuesday that they still had no comment regarding the news or the change in plans.

Toby Melville / Reuters

Of course, Thomas Markle’s decision could still change, so here’s a rundown of everything that’s happened so far.

Kensington Palace issued a statement from Prince Harry’s press secretary confirming that both of Meghan Markle’s parents will be at the wedding and both of them will play important roles in the ceremony.

“On the morning of the wedding, Ms. Ragland will travel with Ms. Markle by car to Windsor Castle,” the statement said. “Mr. Markle will walk his daughter down the aisle of St. George’s Chapel. Ms. Markle is delighted to have her parents by her side on this important and happy occasion.”

Previous reports indicated that Thomas Markle wouldn’t be at the wedding and that the former actress’ mother, Doria Ragland, would walk her down the aisle. People confirmed that Thomas Markle would meet Prince Harry for the first time when he arrived in the U.K. a week before the ceremony.

May 13 — Reports say Thomas Markle staged paparazzi photos.

In the months and weeks leading up to the wedding, photogs had snapped photos of Thomas Markle reading a book about Great Britain, working out and getting fitted for a suit (presumably for the wedding).

On Sunday, May 13, The Daily Mail published video that reportedly shows how the photographs were staged.

ADRIAN DENNIS via Getty Images
A CNN reporter holds up copies of British newspapers leading with a story on Thomas Markle opposite the Henry VII Gate of Windsor Castle on May 15.

May 14 — Thomas Markle says he will no longer attend the royal wedding.

Meghan’s half-sister, Samantha Markle, said that she was “entirely the culprit” for the staged photos and admits that “it was my suggestion.”

Later in the day, Thomas Markle told TMZ he staged the photos in an effort to rebrand his image and admits the posed pictures look “stupid and hammy.” He also said that he had suffered a heart attack a week earlier. In an effort not to embarrass his daughter or the the royal family, he says, Thomas Markle told the outlet he won’t be attending the royal wedding.

May 15 — Thomas Markle says he will attend the royal wedding.

Backtracking on his statements the day before, Thomas Markle told TMZ on Tuesday that he has decided to go to the wedding after speaking with his daughter.

According to the outlet, the former actress told her father she loved him and “was concerned about his health.” She also reportedly told her father that she didn’t care about the paparazzi photos.

Thomas told the outlet that he was experiencing serious chest pains and was back in the hospital, though he is trying to get cleared in time for the royal wedding.